What a buzz kill.
State health advisers to Gov. Cuomo will approve a plan later this week pushing for an increase on “sin” taxes on booze, limiting the numbers of new bars and liquor stores, and restricting the hours of gin joints, The Post has learned.
The New York state Health and Health Planning Council — made up of appointees who advise Gov. Cuomo and Health Commissioner Nirav Shah — put forth the recommendations in a sweeping five-year “Health Improvement Plan” and “Prevention Agenda for 2013-2017,” a copy of which was obtained by The Post.
The officials insist the offensive is aimed at cracking down on underage drinking by teens and binge drinking by adults.
The plan includes provisions to:
* “Increase taxation on alcohol sales.”
* “Decrease alcohol outlet density,” which means cutting back on permits for bars and liquor merchants.
* Establish advertising policies that “do not glamorize alcohol and substance abuse.”
* Increase motor-vehicle checkpoints.
* Boost surveillance of adult alcohol purchases for minors.
But officials stressed that the document is just a series of goals and doesn’t have the power of law.
Making specific policies out of the goals would have to be carried out by Cuomo and the Legislature or New York City and other local governments.
For example, the governor and lawmakers have say over whether to hike liquor taxes. And Cuomo last week all but ruled out tax increases next year, despite the growing costs of dealing with Hurricane Sandy, while earlier this year, Mayor Bloomberg quashed a similar booze crackdown.
Currently, the state excise tax is $6.44 a gallon on hard liquor, 30 cents per gallon on wine and 14 cents a gallon on beer.
Critics are furious with the proposals, which they said are another example of health zealots run amok. “It’s one gigantic nanny state we’re dealing with here,” fumed New York Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, a former Brooklyn liquor-store owner.
“This is just an excuse to bring in more tax revenue to continue their reckless spending.”
Long said the plan is so wacky that Albany “wants to reduce the number of alcohol outlets at the same time they’re promoting . . . [legalizing] medical marijuana.”
“That,” he said, “is clearly hypocritical.”
Dr. Jo Ivy Boufford, who chairs the panel that drafted the plan, said its purpose is to “educate’’ rather than strongarm state and local officials to raise taxes or adopt its other recommendations.
The standard for binge drinking by adults is five drinks for men at one outing and four for women.
A teen who has at least one drink in a 30-day period is considered at risk.
Health officials also say there’s evidence that teen drinkers have more academic difficulties than teen nondrinkers in school.